Cheshire East Green Infrastructure Plan
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CHESHIRE EAST GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN OCTOBER 2019 Prepared by The Environment Partnership for Cheshire East Council A Green Infrastructure Plan for Cheshire East 2019 to 2030 Contents HS2 Corridor Northern Forest Foreword Principal Towns Macclesfield Executive Summary Crewe Key Service Centres Part A – Priorities and Activity Alsager Congleton A green vision Handforth Knutsford Cheshire East’s priorities Middlewich Nantwich Setting the scene Poynton Sandbach Mapping and evidence Wilmslow Our GI Activity Areas Part C – Delivering the GI Plan Partnership Part B – The GI Plan Assets Communities Landscape-scale Projects Landowners Development Bollin Riverlands Infrastructure Wade and Smoker Brooks Strategies Dane Valley Finance Wheelock Valley The Next Generation Weaver Valley Monitoring and Review Sandstone Ridge Peak District National Park & and Peak Fringe Page 1 A Green Infrastructure Plan for Cheshire East 2019 to 2030 Foreword development and infrastructure will inevitably affect green spaces, making it an imperative to enhance the quality of retained green Cheshire East has an outstanding position on the plain between infrastructure or create more, to sustain quality of life and place. the Peak District in the east,the mid-Cheshire Sandstone Ridge in the west and the Mersey in the north. Its distinctive landscapes At the same time, climate change is a real and present danger to are near major transport hubs and economic centres making it a our health and wellbeing. Although target dates may vary a little, great place to live, work, invest and visit. most experts advise we have only a relatively short window to reverse the current trajectory towards irreversible global warming. Our green infrastructure contributes to our ‘Quality of Place’ and All of us living and working in Cheshire East have a responsibility to our strategies and plans, including the Environment Strategy, to act. Safeguarding our green infrastructure plays an important our Local Plan and others relating to health and wellbeing, rights role, whether this is through planting trees where appropriate, of way or green space. It provides opportunities to address the enhancing priority habitats, managing soils, sustainable climate emergency and improve sustainability through carbon management of water or reducing our personal carbon footprint capture and storage or through mitigating impacts such as flood by cycling and walking more. risk. It enables many people to enjoy the outdoors contributing to the wellbeing of our communities and our economy. Our outdoor Cheshire East aspires to a comprehensive and connected green environment provides £924m of value1 per year in terms of the infrastructure that will meet the needs of people and nature in the benefits that flow to society, such as food, flood management, 21st century; we aim to pass on a better environment to the next water and air quality improvement and health and wellbeing generation. Cheshire East Council is taking a lead, commissioning opportunities. We cannot take this for granted; if economic growth this Plan, incorporating policies in the Local Plan and bringing is to be sustainable, we must ensure a parallel increase in the forward an Environment Strategy to address the threat of climate quality of our environment in order to sustain our ’natural capital’. change. The current Local Plan strategy sets a vision for growth, but one Much has already been achieved and this Plan celebrates the that is balanced in a sustainable way. It recognises the need for achievements of the Peak District National Park, of the many people to be able to lead healthy and active lifestyles benefiting environmental organisations or communities active in Cheshire from improved access to sporting facilities, high quality open East and of previous landscape-scale initiatives, such as the spaces, play areas, allotments, watercourses, water bodies and Bollin Valley Partnership. We also look forward to the delivery of the open countryside. It envisages a green infrastructure network exciting new schemes such as the National Trust’s Riverlands that will increase the provision of accessible green spaces, Project. supporting flora, fauna and improving general wellbeing. New Our green infrastructure is in good hands. Cheshire East has thousands of landowners, volunteers, green space managers, 1 Green Infrastructure Assessment of Cheshire East (2018) prepared by the water managers, trusts and campaigners who plan and care for Mersey Forest Team for Cheshire East Council their environment. All individuals and organisations with an Page 2 A Green Infrastructure Plan for Cheshire East 2019 to 2030 interest in our environment can help the effort to achieve the goals set out in this Plan, for we can do more together than individually. The Council will maintain a commitment to leadership but cannot deliver this agenda on its own. This Plan sets out an evidence base for what residents, employers, workers, landowners, developers and visitors could do to improve Cheshire East’s green infrastructure. The Plan offers an opportunity to take a coordinated approach to the management of the green infrastructure with the Council working closely with partners that share a common purpose. We hope this Plan will guide future approaches to green infrastructure in the Borough and help us address a sustainable future together Signed Cllr. Nick Mannion Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration Page 3 A Green Infrastructure Plan for Cheshire East 2019 to 2030 A framework for improving our green infrastructure – an and improving our ‘natural capital’. Using GIS software, Executive Summary multifunctionality of GI has been mapped across Cheshire East, giving a useful indication as to how and where investment in GI This Green Infrastructure Plan has been commissioned by can support strategic themes and result in a range of benefits for Cheshire East Council as a road map for a more comprehensive Cheshire East’s residents and the environment. This builds on a and connected Green Infrastructure (GI) to meet the needs of Green Infrastructure Assessment undertaken for Cheshire East in people and nature in the 21st century and to pass on a better 2018 by the Mersey Forest. A prioritisation process uses objective environment to the next generation. spatial analysis, informed by stakeholder consultation, to identify The Plan can be used by Cheshire East Council, its residents, assets and ‘’pinch-points’’, which help set potential GI investment partners, landowners and developers to develop projects that priorities. deliver a net gain in GI. The Plan provides an evidence base and The spatial analysis is borough-wide and cannot fully capture framework for like-minded organisations or individuals who share local nuances and priorities. Thus, it is recognised that when a GI a vision for excellent GI; while it has been commissioned by investment is being made, local knowledge will be important in Cheshire East Council, it will be delivered through collective project design to optimise the response to local needs and contributions, with leadership shared and distributed across a opportunities. Particular benefit will arise when GI activity areas range of delivery mechanisms. The Plan highlights some strategic are combined to tackle multiple issues and draw together areas for further consideration and suggests some approaches to partnerships across several sections of the local community. partnership working and the involvement of communities or landowners. It envisages a place-based collaborative approach. The Green Infrastructure Plan identifies GI activities that can be aligned to projects and specific pinch points: To help realise the Local Plan vision and other environmental and place-making goals whilst highlighting areas where investment in Urban greening – creating and maintaining vibrant, GI can bring multiple benefits, the GI plan maintains a clear focus healthy and inspiring places where people want to live and on four strategic themes: work. Economy Getting outdoors easily - engaging people and improving Life chances and choices community access to, and enjoyment of, GI for health and Environment wellbeing. Connectivity and movement While most types of GI may have a primary purpose or function, by its nature GI is multi-functional, providing a range of benefits Page 4 A Green Infrastructure Plan for Cheshire East 2019 to 2030 Rivers and valleys –catchment-wide activity to improve Priorities water quality, natural flood management, re-naturalisation 1. Increasing tree and woodland cover towards the national and tranquil enjoyment of watercourses and waterways. average 2. Contribute to the creation of a comprehensive and Thriving nature – creating and safeguarding well- connected network of GI connected networks of habitats. 3. Safeguard and enhance our GI assets in the face of climate change and population growth, recognising their Working alongside major infrastructure – integrating GI value in delivering numerous GI functions that meet local and wider needs. into major new infrastructure projects and retrofitting GI alongside existing infrastructure. Initiatives 1. Facilitate catchment scale sensitive farming to improve soil A distinctive place for culture, heritage and tourism - and land management, reduce water pollution and enhancing the setting of and access to heritage, improve riparian habitats landscape and outdoor recreational assets. 2. Urban greening interventions, planned or retrofitted into the existing